EDUCATION

Ernest Holmes

“Trained thought is far more powerful than untrained.”Ernest Holmes – The Science of Mind –p.47.2

Philosophy of Education

Our philosophy of Education is to present the Science of Mind – a philosophy, a faith, a way of life – as a an exciting, contemporary educational model through which students fully experience the spiritual reality of their being.

This model includes a curriculum that integrates the intellectual, emotional, physical and spiritual aspects of contemporary living, is communicated in modern language and based on a developmental sequence for evolving consciousness.

Purpose of Education

Our educational program offers people of all ages the opportunity to realize the Presence of God as all life, to discover their inherent Creative Power and to experience this Presence and Power in their daily lives.

“It is not always easy to turn from fear, from poverty and pain, and from hurt of human existence, to that which is perfect. But whoever can do this – and will train himself to do it – will be like the man healed of blindness.” Ernest Holmes – The Science of Mind –p.319.2

Pathways of Education

A student may pursue Certificated Courses of Study, in preparation to become a Professional Practitioner or Minister in the United Centers for Spiritual Living.

The student enrolls in a Certificated Course at a member spiritual community and takes the required courses as listed below. It is highly recommended that the student does not take courses concurrently, and the Foundations course must be completed before taking other courses.

During the period from November 2007 to September 2009, your community can choose to offer curriculum from any of our certificated courses for credit toward practitioner study.

After September 2009, the new course curriculum will go into effect. It is expected that anyone who is a beginning student and enrolls at the Foundational level in the fall of 2009 will be taking a minimum of two full years of study before entering practitioner study. Please note that in the fall of 2009, new requirements will be The Essential Ernest Holmes and an added elective course.

In the fall of 2009 and 2010, we will be accepting the same requirement of course preparation that has been in effect for the last 10 years. You may choose to substitute the new curriculum for the older courses or to offer additional courses at your community. All the courses on this list are certificated for credit. Students entering Practitioner Studies in 2011 will take their courses from the following list:

Accredited Classes (certified by United Centers for Spiritual Living) currently offered by Soul Home Teaching Centre for Spiritual Living:

Science of Mind Foundational Level (30 hrs):

“Beyond Limits” or “Foundations”: How to use the power of spiritual practice to change your life

In these classes we study core spiritual concepts and practice applying them to the conditions in our lives. We learn how to gain more clarity and less confusion about what to do and how to do it. The classes are experiential, with guided meditations and exercises to assist the students in incorporating spiritual practice and understanding into their daily life. Either one of these two basic courses is required prior to any further course enrollment.

Spiritual Practices – “The Power of Your Word” (24 hrs):

This eight-week course is building on the knowledge gained in “Beyond Limits” or “Foundations”; the focus is on how to have an active daily connection with Spirit and how to find your own unique way of doing that through spiritual practices. It is an introduction to prayer, focusing on two types of prayer: Conscious, directed prayer and unconscious, indirect prayer. Participants will among other things: identify any personal limiting beliefs and design a spiritual practice that will continue to feed personal prayer.

Science of Mind – Philosophy – The Essential Ernest Holmes (30 hrs):

Rev. Dr. Jesse Jennings, who developed this course as part of the new curriculum, says the following about it:

“This course might be called New Light, as it plumbs material previously only alluded to in UCRS coursework. Here, the best of Ernest Holmes’ written work is laid out for sampling, displaying his wisdom as it broadened and deepened over his long writing life. Students gain a holistic awareness of Ernest’s thought and come to see that many of their modern, topical questions about applying the Science of Mind were addressed by our founder himself at one time or another.

Each of the ten three-hour class sessions features a guided meditation by the facilitator, and then considerable discussion about the readings and the students’ Essays or other creative representations of the weekly themes. Further, Ernest’s insights and the students’ own reflections are viewed in the light of the masterful—yet seldom discussed—one-page summary of belief: Ernest’s Declaration of Principles.

Students develop a deeper sense than ever before of the continuity of thought that made the Science of Mind what it is today and gain more useful insights for drawing upon it in everyday life.”

History/Philosophy – Exploring Roots of Science of Mind (30 hrs):

This class provides the student with an understanding of the historical roots in America of Ernest Holmes’ philosophy. Learn how our teachings became a system that freely draws from many religions, philosophies, literature, and sciences. Directly experience the power of those teachers and the teachings that inspired Ernest Holmes, our Founder. Specific emphasis is given to the works of Thomas Troward, Emma Curtis Hopkins, and Ralph Waldo Emerson. This is a 10-week course. Please note that successful participation in a SOM Foundational class is a prerequisite for this course.

Consciousness Course – “Practical Mysticism” (30 hrs)

This course is entitled Practical Mysticism because true mystics are grounded and are comfortable with both their humanity and their divinity. They are able to embrace both the light and the shadow side of themselves. We will have the opportunity to do specific soul work to embrace the totality of ourselves, releasing blockages and embodying the spiritual truth of our being. The mystic is eminently practical because s/he is so steeped in spiritual truth that his/her life is a demonstration of the all-good of God.

You are embarking on the most wonderful journey of all—the journey to a greater, more expanded awakening of the God Consciousness within yourself. It is a sacred time of emergence that culminates in a greater expression of love, joy, peace, freedom, authenticity, and so much more.

This class focuses on healing the perceived separation between personality and Spirit. Through an active exploration of the creative nature of thoughts and feelings, beliefs and emotions, the students have an opportunity to gain mastery in the art of living as a conscious, intentional being. This is an 8-week course. Please note that successful participation in a SOM Foundational class is a prerequisite for this course.

Practical Application – “Visioning” (24 hrs):

Explore additional ways to enhance your spiritual connection to a Higher Power, through cultivating an inner awareness of what the Divine is revealing to you and through you. The practice of Visioning is the practice of listening for guidance and instruction from within. As important as Prayer and Meditation are, a complete spiritual practice must include time to listen in our fast paced, media orientated world.

Practical Application – Principles of Financial Freedom (24 hrs)

Duplicating the Nature of Spirit in Your Financial Affairs.

The purpose of this class is to move beyond the “wishing” stage of utilizing spiritual principles in the management of your financial affairs. The emphasis of this class will be on expressing spiritual principles through practical means to produce a more financially prosperous experience of life.

This class contains in-depth material that allows the students to examine their belief systems, and to gain a new perspective of how this system of beliefs is at work in their lives. Interplay of thought, emotions, desire, action, spirit, and all facets of being work together to create a new level of well-being and abundance in the individual’s life. A comprehensive workbook and creative exercises are included.

This experiential and mind stimulating class will assist the student in finding and correcting any errors of thinking about money and blocks to financial freedom. This class is perfect for right now when so much “negative” stuff is going around about scarcity and lack.

This course – designed by Rev. Diane Harmony, will give you the tools to change your mind, and thus your life through learning to give 5 GIFTS – an acronym for Gratitude, Intentions, Forgiveness, Tithing and Surrender. By incorporating these principles in your life, you can experience considerable benefits/improvements in the areas of health, finances, relationships and career. The aim of this course is to facilitate the Truth on a Universal scale that lack is an illusion, and that God/Love is all there is.

Science of Mind Study Group in Cape Town: –

In September 2009 we have started to study Ernest Holmes’ book “How to Change Your Life”. This book presents ideas on life and God essential to contemporary understanding; how science and spirituality have merged and what that means for you; and step-by-step instructions on how to use Science of Mind to improve your experience of life. These principles, along with the techniques for applying them, are thoroughly described in this book. If you are ready to positively jumpstart your life, this is the book that can help you do it. Learn how you can change your life for the better – today.